FG expands specialist healthcare access with Kafanchan hospital takeover

The Federal Government has taken over Sir Patrick Ibrahim Yakowa Memorial Hospital in Kafanchan, Kaduna State, following the signing of a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) with the state government to convert the facility into a Federal Medical Centre (FMC), in a move to expand access to specialist healthcare services in Southern Kaduna.

The Minister of State for Health and Social Welfare, Dr Iziaq Adekunle Salako, said the initiative would bring tertiary healthcare services closer to residents of Jema’a Local Government Area and other communities in Southern Kaduna.

Salako spoke on Thursday in Abuja during the signing of the MoU between the Federal Government and the Kaduna State Government at the Kaduna State Liaison Office.

He described the agreement as more than a legal or administrative transition, saying it represented a step towards implementing President Bola Tinubu’s Renewed Hope Agenda and promoting inclusive governance.

According to him, the initiative would address longstanding demands by residents of Southern Kaduna for greater access to healthcare services and improved infrastructure.

The minister commended Governor Uba Sani for the partnership, as well as his administration’s efforts to strengthen healthcare delivery and advance universal health coverage in the state.

He listed the upgrade of 255 primary healthcare centres (PHCs) to Level Two status, the establishment of 23 PHC centres of excellence as referral hubs and data coordination centres, and the completion of a 300-bed specialist hospital in Kaduna among the state government’s healthcare interventions.

Salako also cited the rehabilitation of 19 general hospitals and the expansion of health insurance coverage, alongside the establishment of neonatal care corners in rural and underserved communities to address newborn deaths.

He described the neonatal care initiative as worthy of consideration for possible adoption at the national level.

The minister said the Federal Government was committed to ensuring that access to tertiary healthcare was not restricted to state capitals and major urban centres.

He explained that the distribution of federal tertiary health institutions was being guided by population density, growing demand for medical services and the geographical spread of existing facilities.

Salako said the Federal Government had established 16 additional federal tertiary health institutions across the country’s six geopolitical zones over the past 42 months to improve access to specialist medical services.

He added that the conversion of the Kafanchan hospital into a Federal Medical Centre aligned with the objectives of the Nigeria Health Sector Renewal Investment Initiative, which seeks to improve access to functional, accessible and quality healthcare nationwide.

Under the agreement, the Federal Ministry of Health and Social Welfare will work with the Kaduna State Government to upgrade the hospital’s physical infrastructure and diagnostic capacity, deploy specialist medical personnel and advanced equipment, and provide a transition arrangement for existing healthcare workers interested in continuing their services at the facility.

The minister said the partnership would also position Kafanchan as a regional hub for medical training, research and specialised clinical services.

He pledged that the ministry would work with the state government to implement the operational milestones outlined in the MoU without unnecessary delays.

Salako also paid tribute to the late Sir Patrick Ibrahim Yakowa, the former governor of Kaduna State after whom the hospital was named, describing him as a public servant committed to unity, bridge-building and the welfare of the people.

He said transforming the hospital into a Federal Medical Centre would preserve Yakowa’s legacy by making the facility a centre for improved healthcare delivery for generations to come.

The minister thanked the Kaduna State Government for its cooperation, noting that collaboration between federal and state authorities was essential to improving public health outcomes.

He said the ultimate beneficiaries of the partnership should be Nigerians who need accessible and quality healthcare services.